23
March
2014
|
23:00
Europe/London

Sutton Coldfield businesses set for faster fibre broadband following pioneering partnership

A number of businesses in Sutton will soon be able to enjoy high-speed fibre optic broadband following the creation of an innovative partnership pioneered by Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID and BT’s local network business, Openreach. 

After hearing a part of the town centre was unlikely to get super-fast fibre broadband as part of any commercial roll-out or public sector upgrade, the BID approached Openreach which agreed to work with the BID to find a technical solution as well as to co-fund the project. 

The engineering work is now underway and will be completed this summer. It involves Openreach engineers laying around 600 metres of fibre optic cable. 

Mike Bushell, Sutton Coldfield Town Centre BID manager, comments: “We are living in a fast-moving world, and it is essential that businesses in the area are able to access the best technology available. 

“Part of the BID’s work includes such ‘behind-the-scenes’ infrastructure initiatives as this to ensure that we’re doing everything we can to make Sutton a better place to live and work. Businesses in the local area will now have the opportunity to choose from a range of suppliers, and pay for high speed ‘fibre to the cabinet’ broadband, offering download speeds of up to 80 megabits per second and uploads of up to 20 megabits*. 

“This will help businesses in the area enjoy the quickest, most effective connection, improving their efficiency, productivity and overall delivery. We are very happy to be partnering with Openreach on what is a very worthwhile project.” 

Ian Binks, BT’s regional manager for Sutton Coldfield and the West Midlands, says: “We’ve seen partnerships like this in very small rural communities, but this is the first time Openreach has been involved in a project specially tailored to help the needs of businesses in a part of the West Midlands region. 
“The internet impacts on almost every aspect of our lives, whether at home or at work. That’s why the availability of faster fibre broadband is so important. 

“High-speed broadband enables businesses to do things faster and more effectively – indeed recent research revealed that up to six out of 10 small businesses can grow faster as a result of better connectivity, while 83 per cent can save time and money. Evidence also shows that jobs can be safeguarded and created with a high speed broadband connection.” 

The Openreach network is available to all broadband service providers on an open, wholesale basis so local businesses and residents can benefit from competitive prices and products. 

Note to Editors 

*These are the top wholesale speeds available from Openreach to all service providers; speeds offered by service providers may vary. 

ENDS